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Marseille boss Andre Villas-Boas attempted to look on the bright side of his side's miserable run in the Champions League, saying his team at least needed to be good enough to qualify before their admittedly "sh*t" performance in European competition.

Villas-Boas saw his side easily defeated 3-0 by Porto on Tuesday, their third straight defeat to begin Group C play after a seven-year absence from the Champions League.

Marseille have now lost 12 consecutive Champions League matches, tying the record for the longest run in the competition set by Anderlecht. 

When including European Cup play, only Luxembourg outfit Jeunesse Esch have lost more games consecutively in Europe's top competition (16 games between 1973 and 1987).

Speaking at his press conference after the loss to Porto, Villas-Boas highlighted his side's second-place finish in Ligue 1 last term while also admitting that Marseille have been "sh*t" in European competition.

"In order to be sh*t in the Champions League, you have to at least qualify for the Champions League," the Portuguese said. "We did it and we are being sh*t.

"The record of consecutive defeats? It's a shame that falls upon us."

Marseille goalkeeper Steve Mandanda admitted he was concerned by his team's form in Europe after they also fell to Olympiacos and Man City to begin group play.

“For sure when you see the results you can only be worried," Mandanda told RMC Sport 1. "We are going to measure the words a bit this evening, because there is a lot of anger and disappointment.

"[There are] lots of negative feelings that stand out. We will have to question ourselves because we are not up to par. There are three matches left, we will have to show another face."

When asked if Marseille's record worries him, midfielder Valentin Rongier replied: "No. Frankly, that's not what worries us. What worries us are the results at the moment, especially in the Champions League. It is completely insufficient.

"It's very difficult, we completely understand [supporters'] frustration and their annoyance. We are the first to be reached. It p*sses us off to come here and concede three goals, not score and not take three points."

Marseille are off to a better start in Ligue 1, sitting in fifth place with a game in hand on their rivals. 

Jurgen Klopp paid tribute to Diogo Jota after he helped Liverpool thrash Atalanta in the Champions League – but denied suggestions that the Portuguese star’s form could be bad news for Reds No 9 Roberto Firmino.

Jota was sensational as Klopp’s side ran riot in Bergamo on Tuesday evening, scoring a hat-trick as Liverpool took complete control of Group D. 

The Reds can secure their passage to the knockout stage with a win over the Serie A side when the teams meet at Anfield later this month.

It was a good night for Klopp, who described his team’s performance as “incredible”.

He had chosen to leave Firmino, usually a staple in big European away matches, on the bench against Gian Piero Gasperini’s side, choosing instead to field Jota who has now scored in his last four matches and has seven in his first 10 games since arriving from Wolves in September.

Afterwards, though, Klopp bristled when asked if Jota’s brilliance had given him a selection headache going into Sunday’s crunch Premier League clash away at Manchester City. 

“Good performances never give me a headache!” he told his post-match press conference. “Tonight the decision was clear, it made sense first of all to use the good shape Diogo was in, and secondly because of the way Atalanta plays and defends, we should use the skillset of Diogo to help us. 

“The world is sometimes a bad place, that in the moment when somebody is shining we immediately speak about another player who played what feels like 500 games in a row. Without Bobby Firmino, we would not be in the Champions League even.

"He will be in the team, and for a lot of people in the world if you ask them ‘what makes Liverpool special?’ they would say ‘the way Bobby Firmino is playing’. 

“For us it is important that we have more than 11. Tonight, Diogo played a super, super game but that says nothing about Bobby, and has nothing to do with me causing headaches. I am more than happy that the boys played like they played tonight.”

Klopp had suggested, pre-game, that Atalanta represented the biggest test his team had faced in Europe this season, but the Italians were no match for the speed and sharpness of Jota, or of Sadio Mane and Mo Salah, who both joined him on the scoresheet.

“It is about the players,” Klopp said. “I don't want to talk about tactics too much, because the job he [Gasperini] is doing here is incredible, but I don't think any system could have defended Sadio, Mo and Diogo tonight.”

He added: “Everything I said last night before the game is still 100 per cent true. I am in the business long enough to see when another team is playing good football and can cause each team in the world problems. That didn’t change because of the game and the result tonight. 

“We are good as well! We know that but we have to fulfil our potential, and that’s what the boys did tonight. We defended Atalanta on an incredibly high level, and played top football ourselves and scored the goals.

"We scored five goals, could have scored two or three more, but Alisson had to make three world-class saves as well, so you see how big the threat is if you let them do what they are good at. 

“The overall performance of my team was very good tonight, and that’s why we won the game. The result is not that important, we only wanted to win.”

Liverpool star Diogo Jota attempted to brush off the plaudits after netting a sensational hat-trick in the 5-0 win over Atalanta on Tuesday. 

Jota scored twice in the first half and rounded off his treble in the 54th minute as the Reds put last season's quarter-finalists to the sword in Bergamo. 

The win was Liverpool's third in a row in the Champions League group stages and was also the biggest ever win by an English club away to Italian opposition in European competition.

Jota has now scored in four consecutive matches for Liverpool, netting six goals in those four games. 

When asked if he was playing the best football in his career, the £45 million ($57m) summer signing from Wolves attempted to shift the focus to his team-mates.

“I'm playing in the best team in my career so far," Jota replied to BT Sport. "I don't know if it was my best moment but scoring goals is my way of playing football. It is great to win away in the Champions League."

Asked about playing alongside Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, who both also scored on Tuesday, Jota replied: “Two world-class players, we all know their quality so it makes it easier for me to do my job and I think we did a great game today."

Jota was also asked about his favourite of the three goals, replying: “The first one just because it unlocks the game. For any team it is important to get the first one. We scored soon in the game so it was a good moment for me and it meant as a team we could manage the game."

Liverpool will now turn their attention toward the Premier League as they face a massive showdown against Manchester City on Sunday. The Reds finished a point behind title-winners City in the 2018-19 campaign before they rebounded last season to finish top of the league table by 18 points ahead of Pep Guardiola's side. 

Though Liverpool produced an offensive explosion against Atalanta, Jota is more focused on what his side need to do on the defensive side of the ball against City. 

“Five goals doesn't happen so often in one game, the clean sheet as well," Jota said. "If we can do a clean sheet against City I am pretty sure we win the game."

Mohamed Salah moved level with Steven Gerrard as Liverpool's top goal scorer in European Cup and Champions League history on Tuesday.

Salah netted a stunning breakaway goal early in the second half against Atalanta as the Reds tore the Serie A side apart in a 5-0 victory.

That strike, a composed left-footed finish at the end of a rapid burst forward, was the Egypt international's 21st in the Champions League proper for the team. Salah has therefore tied Gerrard's all-time club benchmark.

Salah, who reached the 2018 final in his first season at Anfield and won the competition the following year, swiftly teed up a fourth Liverpool goal for Sadio Mane.

Diogo Jota had scored twice before the break and completed his hat-trick – his first in Liverpool colours – as Jurgen Klopp's side moved 5-0 up after just 54 minutes.

That would be the end of the scoring as Jurgen Klopp's men cruised to a win that saw them win their third straight match in the Champions League group stage. 

Liverpool are in pole position to qualify for the knockout phase after going top of Group D, five points clear of Ajax and Atalanta who are both on four. 

The five-goal victory on Tuesday means Klopp's side also set the record for the biggest ever win by an English club away to Italian opposition in European competition.

Jota has impressed for the Reds of late, with the Portugal international only the second player to score on his first two starts in the Champions League for Liverpool, following Robbie Keane back in 2008. 

Having also starred for Wolves in the Europa League last term, Jota has now scored three hat-tricks in the Champions League and Europa League combined since the start of last season, the only player to have done so more than once.

He has scored nine goals since the start of last season in European competition - six for Wolves and now three for Liverpool - which is more than any other player for an English side in that period, excluding strikes in qualifying matches.

Following the international break, Liverpool's next Champions League match will be against Atalanta at Anfield on November 25.

Ferran Torres became the third-youngest player in Champions League history to score in four consecutive appearances as he helped Manchester City to a third straight win in this season's competition, a 3-0 success over Olympiacos.

Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland are the only players to have netted in four games in a row at a younger age than 20-year-old Spain international Torres, who scored in the 12th minute, adding to his strikes against Porto and Marseille for City this term and against Atalanta for Valencia last season.

City went into this game unbeaten in seven matches in all competitions and could have been out of sight by the time the Greek champions began to put them under pressure in the second half.

But substitutes Gabriel Jesus and Joao Cancelo scored late on to clinch a result that extends City's group stage streak to 14 games without defeat, and manager Pep Guardiola will be pleased with their form as he aims to take City beyond the quarter-finals for the first time in his reign.

Torres met a City corner with a sublime backheeled shot that flew narrowly wide after six minutes.

City's recent signing went one better six minutes later, playing a one-two with Kevin De Bruyne before sliding a low shot through the legs of goalkeeper Jose Sa to put the hosts in front.

Guardiola's men continued to create the better chances and Raheem Sterling put the ball in the net, only to have his close-range effort ruled out for offside.

A poor pass by Phil Foden afforded Mathieu Valbuena a shot at goal early in the second half but he fired narrowly wide under pressure from John Stones.

Youssef El-Arabi tested Ederson with a shot from just inside the box as City found themselves pinned back again, and Jose Holebas later blazed wide.

But De Bruyne played in Jesus nine minutes from time and the Brazilian lashed the ball home from an acute angle, before Cancelo's carefully placed shot found the bottom corner from just outside the box to wrap up the win.
 

What does it mean? Torres filling Aguero's boots

With Sergio Aguero injured, Torres has staked his claim playing as a centre-forward, with three goals in three Champions League appearances for City.

De Bruyne the creator

Only Kylian Mbappe (15) has made more assists than De Bruyne (14) in the Champions League since the start of the 2017-18 season and the Belgium international fed City's forwards from the first whistle here.

Toothless Olympiacos toil again

Olympiacos have just one goal to show for their efforts in three Champions League games this season and wasteful finishing ensured they scored from none of their six shots on goal here.

What's next?

City face Premier League champions Liverpool at home on Sunday, while Olympiacos are away against struggling OFI in the Greek Super League 1 on the same day.

Robert Lewandowski scored twice as Bayern Munich maintained their 100 per cent start in the Champions League with a rollicking 6-2 win at Salzburg despite a scare on Tuesday. 

The holders eased to victory over Atletico Madrid in their opening game and then saw off Lokomotiv Moscow but looked as though they might come unstuck in Austria when Masaya Okugawa levelled matters at 2-2 in the 66th minute - just 54 seconds after he was introduced as a substitute.

Jerome Boateng, Leroy Sane, Lewandowski and Lucas Hernandez all scored inside the final 11 minutes to clinch the points, however, with Bayern earlier bouncing back from Mergim Berisha's opener to lead through a Lewandowski penalty and Rasmus Kristensen's own goal.

The late show leaves Bayern sitting pretty at the summit of Group A with nine points, five ahead of second-placed Atletico Madrid. Salzburg, meanwhile, are bottom having picked up just one point from their opening three games.

Bayern started slowly and fell behind for the first time in 11 Champions League games when Berisha slotted past Manuel Neuer at his near post after Sekou Koita's shot had deflected into his path.

Gnabry had a superb effort disallowed for offside before Lewandowski scored his first Champions League goal of the campaign, slotting home from 12 yards after Thomas Muller had been tripped by Enock Mwepu, having seen an earlier spot-kick award overturned.

Bayern then forged ahead in the 44th minute when Kristensen headed Muller's cross into his own net from close range.

Kingsley Coman clipped the crossbar from 10 yards shortly after the hour mark, but substitute Okugawa equalised for Salzburg with his first touch after Lewandowski had been caught in possession. 

Bayern stormed back in the closing stages, though, Boateng putting the Bundesliga champions back in front with a powerful header from Joshua Kimmich's corner in the 79th minute.

Substitute Sane superbly curled into the top-left corner four minutes later after being teed up by Kimmich, while Lewandowski grabbed his second two minutes from time with a back-post header from Javi Martinez's cross.

The scoreline was then given a final flourish in stoppage time when Hernandez lashed into the roof of the net to cap a third group-stage win in style.
 

What does it mean? Dogged Salzburg crumble at the death 

Despite the emphatic nature of the scoreline, Bayern did not have it all their own against an impressive Salzburg side, who forced Neuer into eight saves from their 18 shots.

Bayern's firepower ultimately proved too strong for Jesse Marsch's men, though, as they stretched their unbeaten away run in the Champions League to 15 games, with only Manchester United (16 between 2007 and 2010) having achieved a longer such streak. 

Kimmich the creator 

Kimmich's superb form in the Champions League continued, with his two assists from five chances created taking his goal involvements in his past six games in the competition to nine (two goals, seven assists). He also completed 92 per cent of his passes - the second-highest rate of any Bayern starter. 

Mwepu's game to forget 

His clumsy foul on Muller led to the penalty for Bayern's first goal and things did not get much better after that for Mwepu. The Zambia international lost possession a team-high of 18 times and won just 30.8 per cent of his 13 duels.

Key Opta Facts

- Salzburg have lost all five of their Champions League matches against the reigning champions by an aggregate scoreline of 16-5.
- There have been seven matches in which a side has scored six or more goals in a Champions League game since the start of last season, with Bayern responsible for four of them.
- Lewandowski has scored all 12 penalties he has taken in the Champions League (two for Borussia Dortmund, 10 for Bayern).
- Okugawa's equaliser came just 54 seconds after he came off the bench - the second-fastest goal from a substitute in the Champions League this season after Vinicius Junior against Shakhtar Donetsk at 11 seconds.
- Only Real Madrid (16) and Barcelona (15) have benefited from more own goals in Champions League history than Bayern (13).

What's next?

Bayern travel to Borussia Dortmund for Der Klassiker on Saturday before the international break, while Salzburg visit Rapid Vienna in domestic action a day later.

Rodrygo struck 10 minutes from time to earn Real Madrid a 3-2 win and deny Inter after the visitors had battled back from two goals down in Tuesday's Champions League clash.

Madrid head coach Zinedine Zidane labelled the Group B match a "final" and his side made a bright start thanks to Karim Benzema and Sergio Ramos – the latter scoring his 100th goal for the club.

Inter, who entered the contest one point better off than their opponents, battled back through well-taken strikes from Lautaro Martinez and Ivan Perisic either side of half-time.

But Madrid regained their lead late on when substitutes Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo combined on the counter, making it one win in seven for Inter and under-pressure boss Antonio Conte.

Marco Asensio was denied by a smart Samir Handanovic save and Nicolo Barella scraped the top of the crossbar with a header in a lively and end-to-end start to the showdown.

That set the tone for what was to follow as Benzema pounced on Hakimi's underhit backpass, rounded Inter goalkeeper Handanovic and tucked the ball into an empty net for the 25th-minute opener.

Ramos added a second for Madrid eight minutes later by getting away from his marker to meet Toni Kroos' corner and head in from the edge of the six-yard box.

Inter gave themselves an instant lifeline as Barella superbly flicked the ball into the path of Martinez to pick out the bottom-left corner 10 minutes before the interval.

Conte's Inter, once again without injured striker Romelu Lukaku, initially struggled to get at their opponents in a quieter second half in the Spanish capital.

However, against the run of play, Martinez nodded the ball into the path of Perisic and the makeshift striker held off Lucas Vazquez before rifling across Thibaut Courtois.

Both teams went in search of a winner and it was Madrid who found it – Vinicius leading a break down the left and feeding the ball to fellow Brazilian Rodrygo, who took a touch to set himself and then found the top-right corner to win the match during the closing stages.

What does it mean? Madrid off the mark, Inter bottom

This could prove to be a truly massive victory for Madrid, with this first Group B win moving them onto four points from three matches, two more than bottom side Inter.

Borussia Monchengladbach now lead the way after crushing second-placed Shakhtar Donetsk 6-0 earlier on Tuesday, meaning it is very much all to play for in a tight group.

Inter, who were second best in terms of possession (45 per cent) and shots on target (three to Madrid's seven), head into the reverse fixture with Zidane's men knowing that they will surely need a win to keep alive their hopes of progressing.

Ramos reaches a century

Three days after making his 500th LaLiga appearance, Ramos crossed off another milestone with his 100th goal for Madrid in all competitions – 55 of those via his head.

He also won more aerial duels than any other player on the pitch (three) and turned over possession eight times, which was second only to Casemiro among Madrid's players.

Hakimi's horror moment

Madrid's decision to let Hakimi join Inter in the close season raised eyebrows given the full-back's impressive form during his time on loan with Borussia Dortmund.

He topped the charts for tackles (three) and crosses (four) for Inter, highlighting his importance at both ends of the pitch, but his lapse in concentration for Benzema's opener will be the defining moment of his match.

Key Opta Facts

- Real Madrid have won seven of their eight home matches against Inter Milan in European competition (L1), winning each of the last six.

- Madrid have conceded two or more goals in five consecutive Champions League games for just the second time (also in 2001).

- Only Lionel Messi (70) and Cristiano Ronaldo (63) have scored more group-stage goals in the Champions League than Karim Benzema (49).

- Sergio Ramos netted his 100th Real Madrid goal in all competitions, with 55 of those being headed.

- Since the start of last season, only Robert Lewandowski (11) and Serge Gnabry (6) have scored more away goals in the Champions League than Inter Milan's Lautaro Martínez (5).

What's next?

Madrid travel to Valencia on Sunday in their final LaLiga outing before the international break, while Inter make the trip to Atalanta in Serie A on the same day.

Diogo Jota scored a hat-trick as Liverpool thrashed Atalanta 5-0 in the Champions League.

Picked ahead of the out-of-sorts Roberto Firmino, the Portuguese strengthened his claim to a regular starting berth with three brilliantly taken goals in Bergamo.

Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane also got on the scoresheet as Jurgen Klopp's men took complete control of Group D with a convincing away win over another of their supposed rivals for top spot.

A clash between two of Europe's most free-scoring sides was always going to produce chances, and the start of the first half did not disappoint in that regard.

Just two minutes had elapsed when Jota danced through the Atalanta defence before drawing a smart stop from Marco Sportiello, an opening that was quickly followed by Luis Muriel forcing Alisson Becker into action at the other end with a deflected strike.

The opportunities continued to come thick and fast from there but, crucially, it was the visitors who took one of theirs first.

Played in behind by a beautifully weighted Trent Alexander-Arnold pass, Jota showed the confidence of a man who had scored three times in in the last three games, shrugging off Jose Luis Palomino and dinking the ball over the onrushing goalkeeper.

And adding another goal to that impressive haul appeared to have done his self-belief little harm when he latched onto a ball over the top with half an hour gone, touching it around his man and lashing an effort in at the near post to make it 2-0.

Just two minutes into the second half, Salah's sprint in behind a wide-open Atalanta defence was picked out by Curtis Jones, and the Egyptian was customarily ruthless with the subsequent left-footed finish into the top corner.

Having equalled Steven Gerrard's haul of 21 goals in Europe's elite competition, Salah turned provider two minutes later, playing Mane in behind for a beautiful dinked effort that made a mockery of Sportiello's attempt to close the angle.

It was then that Jota capped a remarkable start to the second period, beating the keeper to a Mane pass to round him and coolly finish from distance. 

To their credit, Atalanta came close to mustering a response, Duvan Zapata hammering the inside of the post after leaving Joe Gomez for dead before drawing a good save from Alisson after driving through the visitors' defence.

But, as had been the case all evening, Liverpool's supremacy was never in doubt.

What does it mean? Reds in control

With just three games played, Liverpool now boast a handy five-point lead over both Atalanta and Ajax at the top of Group D.

The Reds are now major favourites to not only progress to the knockout stages but to do so as group winners.

Jota keeps up dream start

One of the main question marks over Jota following his move from Wolves was whether he could be transformed from a streaky finisher into a ruthless Liverpool winger.

Three goals from four shots here certainly suggests so, while a pass completion rate of just 68.4 per cent shows there are still plenty of areas for further improvement too.

Toloi sums up difficult night

When Jota skipped past him to get a shot away in just the second minute, it looked like it was going to be a long night for Rafael Toloi.

And so it proved, the defender surrendering possession 15 times, making just two tackles, and completing only 71.1 per cent of his passes.

Key Opta Facts

- Liverpool's 5-0 win was the biggest ever by an English club away to Italian opposition in European competition.

- Atalanta's defeat was the second biggest ever by an Italian side on home soil in European competition, after Roma's 7-1 loss to Bayern Munich in October 2014 in the Champions League.

- Liverpool have won each of their last four away games in the Champions League group stage, after losing four in a row before this between October 2018 and September 2019 (all under Jurgen Klopp).

- Liverpool boss Klopp finally won away in Italy in the Champions League after losing on each of his five previous visits in the competition, courtesy of defeats to Napoli (3), Juventus and Roma.

- This was only the second time in Champions League history that Liverpool started with two teenagers, via Rhys Williams and Curtis Jones (also Danny Guthrie and Lee Peltier versus Galatasaray in December 2006).

What's next?

Klopp's men have an equally crucial Premier League away trip up next, as they visit title rivals Manchester City on Sunday. Atalanta, meanwhile, welcome Inter Milan to Bergamo the same day. 

Tottenham, Newell's Old Boys, Napoli and current employers Gimnasia were among the clubs to send their best wishes to Diego Maradona as the Argentina idol prepares for emergency surgery on a blood clot found on his brain.

The 60-year-old coach, who celebrated his birthday on Friday prior to Gimnasia's Copa Liga Profesional clash against Patronato, was hospitalised on Monday in La Plata. 

While at first the star's inner circle assured that the move was routine, the following day his personal physician Leopoldo Luque revealed that tests had discovered a subdural hematoma that would require immediate intervention. 

Maradona was thus moved from the clinic to the Clinica Olivos, located in the north of Buenos Aires, with his ambulance followed by dozens of Gimnasia fans who congregated outside to keep a vigil on the legend's health. 

And as news broke of the procedure, which Luque insisted was "routine", the world of football was quick to wish him the best ahead of this latest health setback - using the hashtag #FuerzaDiego, meaning in Spanish "Stay strong". 

News of Maradona's condition also transcended the world of football, with former President of Bolivia Evo Morales - who received the star's support during the coup d'etat that removed him from office at the end of 2019 - also sending a message. 

"My soul brother Diego Maradona," the former head of state wrote, "all of our solidarity, we hope for your quick recovery."

Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos brought up a century of goals on Tuesday, as he demonstrated once more his reputation as one of the deadliest defenders in football history in front of goal. 

Real went into their Champions League group stage clash with Inter in dire need of victory, having started their campaign with defeat at home to Shakhtar Donetsk before clawing a late 2-2 draw against Borussia Monchengladbach. 

After a positive start from the hosts they scored twice in quick succession to put Antonio Conte's charges up against the ropes. Karim Benzema opened the scoring after 25 minutes, while eight minutes later Ramos struck with a trademark towering header from a corner to double the advantage. 

In doing so, the centre-back reached a figure in Madrid colours beyond the wildest dreams of most players in his position. 

Ramos, 34, has now scored 100 competitive goals for his club, a figure he reached in 659 appearances to mark a more than respectable strike-rate of a goal just over every six games. 

Those goals include strikes in two Champions League finals, both against Atletico Madrid, which proved crucial in delivering the trophy to the Blancos, as well as countless crucial efforts across his glittering career.

When including the goals he netted prior to his move from Sevilla and for the Spain national team, the veteran's tally ascends to 128, placing him among the highest-scoring defensive players in the game's history. 

Ronald Koeman leads the all-time list having struck 253 goals for the likes of PSV, Barcelona and the Netherlands national team, aided by his undisputed status as the designated free-kick and penalty taker at those sides. 

Behind the current Barca boss follow the likes of Argentine World Cup winner Daniel Passarella, Ramos' fellow Madrid legend Fernando Hierro and France idol Laurent Blanc - as well as the rather less heralded Graham Alexander. 

The now-retired penalty expert, who represented Burnley, Scunthorpe, Luton and Preston North End as well as Scotland, currently sits in fifth in the rankings with 130, just two clear of Ramos. 

However, given his role as Madrid's spot-kick taker following the exit of Cristiano Ronaldo and his natural eye for goal, it should not be long until the Spain ace overtakes Alexander and continues his rise up into the top five.

Dynamo Kiev head coach Mircea Lucescu has said his side will only have 13 players available when they face Barcelona in the Champions League on Wednesday. 

The Ukranian outfit has recently seen several players and coaches test positive for Covid-19, and will be forced to go into the Group G clash at Camp Nou badly shorthanded. 

On Sunday, Dynamo confirmed that six players had tested positive: Heorhiy Tsytaishvili, Denys Harmash, Mikkel Duelund, Olexandr Karavayev, Tudor Baluta, and Mykola Shaparenko.

Those six were added to three players who had previously been confirmed as positive: Heorhiy Bushchan, Vitaliy Mykolenko and Denys Boyko. In addition, assistant coach Emil Caras and four staff members were also confirmed to have the virus. 

Wednesday's fixture was in danger of being postponed, with UEFA rules stating that teams must have at least 13 players available from their A squad list for a given match. 

After all 13 of Dynamo's players who travelled tested negative on Tuesday, the match will now be allowed to proceed.

In his press conference on Tuesday, Lucescu said that his side would have to make do with what they have against the Liga giants, adding that he would have rather played under different circumstances.

"We only have 13 players available, there's not a lot to change so our tactics will be playing football," Lucescu said.

"The problem will be tomorrow when playing. As a coach it would have been better to play another day but we must play and we will."

Lucescu also offered his opinion on Barcelona's chances in this season's tournament, saying that he believes Ronald Koeman's side is not yet at the level required to win the Champions League. 

"I don't think Barcelona has the level now to win the Champions League," Lucescu said. "Bayern, [Manchester] City or PSG have more options.

"They have a footballer like Leo Messi, who can be very important. A new coach needs a minimum of six months and in the spring it will be a different team."

Speaking about Barca star Messi, Lucescu added: "He is doing incredible things, he doesn't think about himself but about the club.

"He fights, he gives assists and he scores because he wants to help the young players. He sacrifices himself for the collective."

Veteran Ghanaian coach JE Sarpong is unhappy with the inclusion of out-of-favour Chelsea defender Abdul Rahman Baba for the nation's upcoming matches against Sudan.

Left-back Baba was among the shock names on coach CK Akonnor's 23-man roster unveiled for the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying double-header on November 12 and 15.

The surprise stems from the player's lack of first-team football with Chelsea, having been demoted by Blues manager Frank Lampard to the second team.

"My problem with CK Akonnor’s selection has to do with that of Baba Rahman," Sarpong said, as reported by Sportsworldghana.

"Has Baba Rahman being consistent with his team. If it’s because he plays for the reserve side and has earned a call up then it [his call-up] is a big 'no'.

“Asamoah Gyan should have also be invited if CK Akonnor is giving reasons for selecting some players to be understudied by the young players."

Baba has not played first-team competitive football for over a year. His last outing came in September 2019 when he picked up a season-ending injury while on loan at La Liga side Real Mallorca.

The Tamale-born, who featured for German fold Schalke 04 between 2016 and 2019, has been in and out of action since sustaining a long-term injury while representing Ghana at the 2017 Afcon tournament in Gabon.

"If you know the player, you’ll always want to have him around your team or the national team because he deserves the support,” former Schalke 04 striker Gerald Asamoah said on the left-back's call-up, Futaa reports.

“I knew him when he was at Schalke, a great guy with an easy smile and I’m happy Ghana see that in him and have shown the support to get him back to his best.

“The coach is human and has shown that team spirit and a sense of duty comes hand in hand with football.”                                                

Baba last played for Ghana at the 2019 Afcon tournament in Egypt.

This season, Baba, who was also once on the books of German sides Greuther Furth and Augsburg, has made two appearances for Chelsea’s U23s in the Premier League 2.

Zaidu Sanusi, Moussa Marega and Chancel Mbemba have been handed starters roles as FC Porto take on Olympique Marseille in Tuesday night’s Champions League encounter.

After a losing start in the 2020-21 campaign against Manchester City, the Dragons secured their first victory against Olympiacos - defeating the Greek team 2-0 inside Estadio Do Dragao thanks to goals from Fabio Vieira and Sergio Oliveira.

They would be eyeing their second victory when they host Marseille, who are without a win after two games.

And to grind out the result against the Phocaeans, manager Sergio Conceicao has named a strong line-up that comprises of the Nigeria, Senegal and DR Congo internationals.

In a 4-3-3 formation, Sanusi will partner Mbemba, Malang Sarr and Wilson Manafa in the defence to cover for goalkeeper Agustin Marchesin.

Sergio Oliveira, Mateus Uribe and Otavio hold sway in the Primeira Liga side’s middle as Marega will lead the hunt for goals alongside Luis Diaz and Jesus Corona.

Senegal’s Mamadou Ndiaye and Guinea Bissau’s Nanu are among the named substitutes for the former European champions while Senegalese goalkeeper Mouhamed Mbaye is out of the team owing to a knee injury.

Victory for third-placed Porto in this Group C clash will boost their qualification chances in a zone that parades the Citizens and the Legends.

Diego Simeone was left frustrated as Atletico Madrid were held 1-1 at Lokomotiv Moscow in the Champions League.

Atletico pushed hard throughout the second half for a winner, with Joao Felix, Koke and Luis Suarez threatening, and home goalkeeper Guilherme playing a blinder.

But the goal they were searching for proved elusive, when with a little more luck and a touch more precision they might have won by two or three.

The Spanish visitors had gone ahead early on thanks to a terrific header from Jose Gimenez before being frustrated to give away the penalty from which Anton Miranchuk tucked in the home side's equaliser midway through the first half.

Gimenez made the breakthrough for coach Simeone's team in the 18th minute. Hector Herrera's cross from the left picked out the run into the penalty box by the Uruguayan, who leapt well before directing a header into the bottom-left corner.

Lokomotiv were awarded their penalty in the 22nd minute when a ball into the box brushed Herrera's right arm. Referee Benoit Bastien went to a VAR review before making a decision that angered Luis Suarez so greatly he was booked for his protests.

Miranchuk slotted into the left corner after a stuttering run-up, as Jan Oblak dived the other way.

Angel Correa struck the Lokomotiv crossbar with a 20-yard shot, before Suarez sent a volley too high, as Atletico looked to regain the lead.

Atletico came into this game, which was watched by around 8,000 spectators, after beginning their Group A campaign with a 4-0 defeat at Bayern Munich and a 3-2 victory over Salzburg.

Suarez threatened with a header from a tight angle early in the second half, before Joao Felix was denied a wondergoal by a fingertip save from Guilherme, his whipped 25-yard strike having been arrowing towards the top-right corner.

Joao Felix was denied again by the goalkeeper, touching over his powerful header, before Koke hit the bar, also with a thumping header. Suarez tapped in as the ball rebounded out but had strayed offside. It was not to be their night.

What does it mean? Lokomotiv running out of time

For Lokomotiv, after drawing with Salzburg and losing 2-1 to Bayern, this felt like a must-win game ahead of tricky trips to Madrid and Munich later in the campaign. They were backed by noisy home supporters, which meant there was a real vibrancy to the game, but had to cling on at the end. Atletico and Bayern have always looked the class acts in this group, and nothing in this game changes that perception.

Hot Herrera

Joao Felix was eminently watchable as he looked to cause devastation in the final third, but Herrera was terrific throughout, and mighty unfortunate to give away the penalty when his hands were slightly raised. Herrera attempted 91 passes - 21 more than anyone else in Atletico blue - and his cross for the opener showed great vision.

Atletico played through Herrera, as his team-high 103 touches showed, and his fine showing came on the night he made his 46th Champions League appearance - equalling Javier Hernandez's record for the most games played by a Mexican in the competition.

Atletico out of luck

There was a lot to like about Atletico's performance, but strikers must put away chances to win games in the Champions League. Joao Felix had five goal attempts and Suarez three, and they are certainly approaching a good understanding, with the latter hoping his new team-mate can be as helpful as Lionel Messi often was at Barcelona.

Joao Felix fed the ball to Atletico's number nine four times, and next time he might convert one of those passes.

Key Opta Facts

-Atletico have failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their previous five matches in the Champions League, their worst run in the competition since a seven-game stretch ending in October 2013.
-Los Colchoneros have also won just one of their past five away games in the competition (D1 L3), with that win coming against Liverpool at Anfield in March.
-With this draw, Atletico have a solitary triumph from their opening three Champions League group games this season – the only two previous seasons in which they have won as few at this stage are 2009-10 and 2017-18 (zero victories), being eliminated on both occasions.
-Lokomotiv scored with their only shot on target in this match, courtesy of Miranchuk's 25th minute penalty.

What's next?

Atletico face Cadiz in LaLiga on Saturday, in their last match before the international break. Lokomotiv have a derby clash with Dinamo Moscow ahead of them on Sunday.

Diego Maradona will undergo surgery on Tuesday to treat a serious subdural hematoma, his doctor confirmed. 

Maradona was admitted to hospital on Monday after reportedly feeling unwell for several days. He appeared weak and needed help walking in his most recent public appearance on Friday.

While early statements from personal physician Leopoldo Luque were upbeat, it was later revealed that the legend would require an operation after a blood clot was discovered on his brain. 

"Diego is conscious, he understands and agrees with this intervention," Luque explained to reporters outside the Ipensa clinic in La Plata, 37 miles south of Buenos Aires. "He is very calm. This is a routine surgery. He has something similar to what [former President of Argentina and current vice-president] Cristina [Fernandez de Kirchner] had."

Maradona's personal doctor had previously said that the 60-year-old's condition is improving. 

“He is much better than yesterday, and he is looking forward to leaving. I would like him to stay one more day,” Luque told local media.

“He is anemic, a little dehydrated, we must correct this and see that he continues to improve. We want to improve his condition as much as possible, and we need a little more time for that."

Luque admitted that he had a minor disagreement with Maradona over the length of his stay in the hospital, with the doctor looking to keep the World Cup winner hospitalised for a bit longer.

"Because he sees himself better, he wants to leave," Luque said. "I asked him to hang on. He had a good night and is in a good mood. We were joking around and we walked a bit inside the clinic. He's evolving as we expected."

Fans of Gimnasia La Plata, the local club where Maradona serves as head coach, flocked outside the hospital – a gesture that Luque said can be beneficial for the icon's recovery. 

“What he needs most is the support of the people,” Luque said.

Maradona, who turned 60 on Friday, has had a number of health scares over the years. The former Boca Juniors, Barcelona and Napoli star underwent gastric bypass surgery in 2005 to help in his battle with weight, then underwent the same procedure again in 2015. 

He was also admitted to hospital in January 2019 with internal bleeding in the stomach, while he fell ill at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, being filmed passing out at the game between Argentina and Nigeria.

Widely considered one of the greatest players of all time, Maradona won the 1986 World Cup with Argentina before falling short in the final four years later. 

Liverpool's hopes of defending their first Premier League title took a turn after their star defender Virgil van Dijk suffered a knee injury during the Merseyside derby.

Van Dijk clashed with Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford and was forced to limp off the pitch after just 11 minutes, with Liverpool later confirming he had damaged the anterior cruciate ligament in the knee.

So will he be forced to miss the rest of the season? Goal takes a look.

Will Van Dijk be out for the rest of the season?

Liverpool have not set a timeline for Van Dijk's full return to fitness, but it is safe to say that he will likely miss out on the majority of the 2020-21 campaign.

The Netherlands centre-back successfully underwent surgery in October following his clash with Pickford, with Liverpool confirming the outcome of the procedure.

“The Liverpool defender’s planned operation took place in London and was conducted successfully," Liverpool stated on their official website.

"Van Dijk will now immediately focus on the beginning of his rehabilitation with the support of the Reds' medical department. No timeframe has been placed on the Dutchman’s return to action.”

ACL injuries can take anywhere from six to 12 months to recover from, and so Van Dijk's most hopeful return date will be around April or May.

Still, a return in the spring will mean that he will be unavailable for most of the current season, including the entire Champions League group-stage campaign.

Van Dijk has expressed his optimism ahead of the recovery period, vowing on his Twitter to return to action stronger than before: "This afternoon I met with a leading consultant to start the process of planning the finer details of my rehabilitation following the incident yesterday," he said.

"I'm now fully focused on my recovery and will do everything I can to be back as quickly as possible.

"Despite the obvious disappointment, I'm a firm believer that within difficulty lies opportunity and with God's help I'm going to make sure I return better, fitter and stronger than ever before."

Van Dijk's absence will no doubt be a huge blow to Liverpool, with the Netherlands international previously not missing a single minute of Premier League action since September 2018. His injury against Everton ended a 74-game streak.

He was instrumental in the Reds' successful 2019-20 Premier League campaign, with ex-Liverpool vice-captain Jamie Carragher suggesting that his absence will leave the title up for grabs.

"So I think it blows the title race wide open, I really do," said Carragher.

"I still felt at the start of this season that Liverpool certainly were the team to beat, and I think with Van Dijk being out for what looks like the whole season, now I think it's going to be all on."

Will Van Dijk be fit for the Euros in 2021?

The Euros, which were originally due to be held in 2020 but were pushed back for a year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, is slated to take place from June 11 to July 11.

Realistically, Van Dijk has a very strong chance of returning to full fitness in time to represent the Netherlands in UEFA's showpiece continental tournament.

Should he be able to recover by spring, it would potentially leave him several weeks to resume training before linking up with the national team ahead of preparation for the Euros.